Water Shortage Direction for Opihi River and tributaries

A Water Shortage Direction for the Opihi
River and its tributaries – which includes the Opuha River
and Lake Opuha – is in effect from Tuesday 16 October for
14 days. The Direction requires Opuha Water Limited to
maintain a minimum flow of 7 cubic metres per second in the
Opihi River (at the Saleyards Bridge) when the lake is above
375 metres.

The lake level is currently around 390
metres. The Opuha Environmental Flow Release Advisory Group,
comprising representatives from district councils, farmers,
Opuha Water Limited, river users and tangata whenua, agreed
to the release level of 7 cubic metres for a 14-day period
to enable minimum water release from the Opuha Dam in order
to build up water storage.

There are no irrigation
restrictions in this Direction. Environment Canterbury has
authority under section 329 of the Resource Management Act
1991 to notify the Water Shortage Direction.

Last week, we all owed a vote of thanks to Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad for breaking with protocol during his bilateral meeting in Singapore with New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern. Reportedly, Mahathir used the photo opportunity phase of the meeting – which usually involves just an exchange of smiles and pleasantries before the media is sent out of the room – to launch into matters of genuine substance.

By doing so, Mahathir usefully exposed how New Zealand is trying to make a virtue out of sitting on the fence over the South China Sea dispute. More>>

At the invitation of the Right Honourable Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, undertook a State Visit to New Zealand on 19 November 2018... More>>

One hundred and fifty academics and researchers from around Aotearoa, including Dame Anne Salmond, Emeriti Professors and several Fellows of the Royal Society, have signed a strongly-worded open letter to the Government demanding bold and urgent action to tackle climate change. More>>

“Moving towards 100 percent qualified teachers in early childhood education centres and improving adult:child ratios are among some of the key proposals for change put forward by the sector and experts in the new draft ten year strategic plan for early learning,” Chris Hipkins said. More>>

“Dame Annette King needs no introduction given her long running career as a parliamentarian where she has previously held a number senior Cabinet portfolios, including Justice, Police and Health. She also was Parliament’s longest serving female MP with 30 years’ service,” said Mr Peters. More>>